Monmouthshire news

Minister sees Tintern art on display

John Griffiths, Minister for Natural Resources, Culture and Sport is given a talk about the exhibition by the Mayoress and Curator for Chepstow Museum, Anne Rainsbury. Also present, far left, is John Prosser, Chairman of Monmouthshire County Council (8680

PAINTINGS: John Griffiths AM, mayoress and curator for Chepstow Museum, Anne Rainsbury, and John Prosser, chairman of Monmouthshire County Council

THE Minister for Culture and Sport, John Griffiths AM, formally opened an exhibition of world-renowned artworks at Chepstow Museum on Monday (July 28).

The exhibition, featuring paintings by JMW Turner, Samuel Palmer, Thomas Gainsborough, Edward Dayes, Thomas Girtin, Francis Towne, and many other great masters of the art of British Landscape, all inspired by Monmouthshire’s historic Tintern Abbey, runs until September 28.

Manuscripts relating to world renowned works about Tintern and the Wye also feature, including letters and notes about the composition of Wordsworth’s famous poem, William Gilpin’s manuscript for his Guide to the Wye that first laid out rules for the Picturesque and a 13th century Tintern Bible as well as artefacts made for, and used in the abbey.

The exhibition, entitled “Sites of Inspiration” is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Welsh Government’s Sharing Treasures scheme which enables local museums to display objects from national institutions. Admission is free